Converge ICT expects to double fiber prepaid subscribers this year on rising Internet usage

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said

Friday it expects to double its fiber prepaid subscribers this year as it aggressively expands its services among lowincome groups in urban centers.

Converge, which launched its Surf2Sawa prepaid fiber internet product in Tondo, one of its top served urban settlements, said it was well on track to hitting its goal of reaching 120,000 subscribers by year-end from 60,000 subscribers today.

The community event was held at Sandiwaan Center, just across Smokey Mountain, in Manila.

“In Metro Manila, we are elated to see S2S prepaid fiber internet being the home broadband product of choice in dense communities in the city of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan and Taguig. This is a sign that these urban settlements are leveraging our pure fiber connectivity to augment their livelihood and answer their entertainment, social and even financial needs,” said Converge chief executive and cofounder Dennis Uy.

“We are glad to enrich the digital lives of these neighborhoods and in our own way, help their socioeconomic development,” he said.

Converge launched S2S in November

2022 with presence in over 400 cities and municipalities across the country.

As of end-July, S2S was serving customers in 554 cities and municipalities from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“For 2023, we hope to open in new areas in Luzon such as Kalinga and Occidental Mindoro, Visayas, including Negros Oriental and Leyte and Mindanao provinces like Sarangani, South Cotabato and Bukidnon,” said Converge senior executive vice president and chief operations officer Jesus Romero.

Converge strengthened its hold in key urban areas through a business model that recruited sales agents within the community as retailers, providing much needed livelihood opportunities in these neighborhoods.

Surf2Sawa is a prepaid fiber-to-thehome plan with various top-up options for as low as P50 load for one-day service and up to P700 for a 30-day unlimited connectivity which is the most widely subscribed plan. The modem limits concurrent users to six devices, with an average speed of 25 megabits per second.

Converge, with more than 8 million ports deployed across the country as of March 2023, said it is well-positioned to capitalize on this prepaid opportunity with expansive digital infrastructure.

“We are excited to enter this joint venture with FCPL to own and operate the Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. These brands will be a strong addition to JFC’s foreign franchised brands and will allow JFC to capture an even greater opportunity and strengthen JFC’s position for further growth in the Philippine market,” Jollibee chief executive Ernesto Tanmantiong said in statement to the stock exchange.

Tiong Bahru Bakery is famous for baked goods and coffee with 16 branches in Singapore, while Common Man Coffee Roasters operates an all-day dining cafe with five stores across Singapore and Malaysia.

Both companies committed to invest up to P250 million in the joint venture company, which will have its own resources. JFC will take the lead in the management and operation of the business. The joint venture company will be the franchisee of both brands in the Philippines. FCPL is a majority-owned subsidiary of Titan Lifestyle Holdings Pte. Ltd., which is wholly owned by Titan Dining LP where JFC has a 90-percent participating interest.

Elma Muros leads launch of Women’s Run PH tilt

LONG jump great Elma Muros-Posadas served as special guest during the official launching of the Women’s Run PH, a brand new running event series for women.

Muros-Posadas a 15-time Southeast

Asian Games gold medalist and acknowledged as the country’s undisputed long jump queen, graced the event held at Kandle Café in Capitol Commons and led the ceremonial run participated by athletes, running enthusiasts, influencers, and sponsors.

Women’s Run PH is a series of running events created to celebrate and empower women through running and will hold its official run on October 1 at UP Diliman.

There will be two categories to be held, a 1km Kids Dash, and a 5km run exclusive for women.

Rizza Diaz, anchor at One News PH, emceed the event.

Muros-Posadas recounted her experiences as a lady runner, from how she first got into the sport in her province of Romblon all the way to her journey as one of the greatest Filipina athlete ever.

“Hindi pwedeng madehado tayo.

Kung kaya ng mga kalalakihan, kaya rin ng kababaihan,” said the athletic icon.

Women’s Run PH founder Nicole Dela Cruz also shared details of the exclusivefor-women running event including its inspirations, aspirations, and what it aims to become in the coming years.

“This event is very special to me, and I am very passionate about it,” said Dela Cruz, who is also an athlete.

She also expressed gratitude to Rio de la Cruz, president and CEO of Runrio, for supporting and guiding her in creating the event, and thanked sponsors Marie France and Shiv.

During the event, the official Women’s PH Run singlet and medal were also presented.

Tambalque, Villaroman eye top finish in JPGT Pradera

THE ICTSI 2023 Junior PGT Series moves to Lubao, Pampanga on Sunday (Aug. 6) with Round 3 of the 18-hole stroke play tournament for boys’ 13-14 and 15-18 age divisions and girls’ 1518 play at the sprawling Pradera Golf and Country Club complex.

The 48-player field set to vie for top honors and ranking points surpasses the 45-player cast in the last JPGT leg at Valley Golf Club in Antipolo, which featured the boys’ and girls’ 9-10, boys’ and girls’ 11-12 and girls’ 13-14 classes, as the series continues to gain traction while providing a new platform for these youngsters to hone and develop their talent and skills.

The JPGT series, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by long-time golf patron ICTSI, also includes the drive, chip and putt skills challenge.

Patrick Tambalque, the Round 1 winner at Mount Malarayat last June, seeks another top finish in the 13-14 division that also drew the likes of Tristan Padilla, Alex Crisostomo, Bien Fajardo, Gabriel Handog, Felix Saludar, Ramon Fabie, Santi Asuncion and Clark Bayani.

Zachary Villaroman, on the other hand, leads the chase in the 15-18 category that includes David Serdenia, Alonso Espartero, Zeus Sara, Rafael Manaol and Vasco Esquivel, while Angelica Bañez, Casey Frankum and Lee Ji Won banner the girls’ 15-18 division at the par-72 course, a regular venue of the Philippine Golf Tour and Ladies PGT circuits.

SLAMBALL,

ANYONE?

Bryan

Bell-Anderson #9 of Ozone dunks against the Slashers during a SlamBall game at the Cox Pavilion on in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP